Talented young golfers set their sights on Europe

In the swing: Sebastian Jones, Xavier Scharz, James Arin Duffy and Charlie Brown

These young golfers will be taking a swing at first place in the US Kids Golf European Championship this summer.

The talented boys from Reading are sharpening their aim ready for the tournament where they will take on 500 players from 30 countries in a bid to be crowned the top young golfer in Europe.

Charlie Brown, 12, Sebastian Jones, 11, and James Arin Duffy, nine, who all play at the Castle Royle Golf Club in Bath Road, Knowl Hill, are hoping to take home the first place trophy.

Eight-year-old Xavier Scharz, who lives in Wentworth, near Sunningdale, is the youngest of the club members in the tournament.

Russell, father of Sebastian and junior organiser at the club, from Woodley, said: “I introduced Sebastian to golf at a very young age with plastic clubs in the back garden and he had his first hole-in-one when he was five.

“I think it’s a great game socially but also to educate them about the personal skills and discipline. All of these boys could be future stars.”

Charlie’s dad, Glenn, from Sonning Common, agreed there were some talented youngsters in the competition.

He said: “There are some really good kids. The good thing about it for Charlie is he’s in the 12-year-old age bracket, whereas the games he’s been playing are older juniors.

“He’s a tall lad and his standard of golf is very high.

“He started playing when he was nine and he’s gone on from there ever since.”

The young golf-pros will be travelling to East Lothian in Scotland to compete at four historic golf courses.

The tournament runs from June 1 to June 3, during which children aged five to 18 will take part in a number of rounds.

James’s dad, also called James, from Caversham, said: “He’s looking forward to it. We are proud of him. We started playing together when he was six years old and he loves it.”

The Reading golfers are hoping to make it to first place as lucky winners will jet off to the US in August to play in the US Kids Golf World Championship in North Carolina.